Diagnostics

BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

We are equipped with blood pressure machines for both surgical monitoring (every surgical patient has a constant blood pressure measurement) and ‘bed-side’ or measurement during examination. We screen all of our senior pets for low/high blood pressure, especially if your pet suffers from kidney, heart or thyroid disease.

CARDIOLOGY

Cardiology is the study of the heart and how it functions. At Guelph Animal Hospital we can help to diagnose heart conditions by blood tests, x-rays, echocardiogram (ultrasound), and EKG. If it is decided that your pet needs to be evaluated by a cardiologist we can quickly make that referral for you.

DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY

Radiology (x-ray) is routinely used to provide valuable information about your pet’s health. It can be used alone, or in conjunction with other diagnostic tools (such as ultrasound or blood tests) to provide a list of possible causes for a pet’s condition, or to come to a definitive diagnosis.

At Guelph Animal Hospital, we are equipped with a digital x-ray unit. Digital radiography provides a very high quality image that allows better visualization of bones and soft tissue, and allows us to manipulate the images to help improve our ability to make a diagnosis. These images are captured and can be shown to you on any computer in the hospital within minutes. These images are saved as part of your pet’s electronic health record kept at the Guelph Animal Hospital. If your pet’s images need to be reviewed by a board certified radiologist, the availability of digital images means that we can often have the results within hours, as opposed to days with film imaging.

If you would like a copy of your pet’s x-rays we will happily email or provide you with a CD copy.

IN-HOUSE LABORATORY

At Guelph Animal Hospital, our in-house laboratory allows us to run most diagnostic tests on-site including serum chemistry, blood analysis, urine tests, fecal exams, and cytology (from ear swabs or from skin lumps). This allows for prompt results and decision making when it comes to the treatment of your pet any time of day, including weekends.

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Here at Guelph Animal Hospital, we are equipped with a number of tests to help diagnose your pet’s ocular (eye) disease. We have a special tool – called a Tonovet – which lets us quickly diagnose the pressure inside your pet’s eyes (elevations can indicate a serious condition called glaucoma). If your pet needs to see an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) we can quickly arrange an in-house consultation with a local board certified eye specialist.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Ultrasonography is becoming one of the most useful diagnostic tools here at Guelph Animal Hospital. Sometimes an x-ray may not give us a clear enough view of the inside of your pet’s body – ultrasound can help to give us a more clear view.

Drs. Renee Fleming and Ilana Smolkin have over 200 hours of training in veterinary ultrasonography. We offer on-site imaging almost every day that we are open. Most pets will tolerate an ultrasound procedure very well – they must lie fairly still on their back during the procedure, which can take up to 45 minutes. If your pet is nervous or anxious, we will recommend administering a safe sedation to assist with the procedure.

We can image your pet’s abdomen or chest/heart (echocardiogram).

If there is an organ or mass that requires a biopsy, we can quickly obtain a sample under a deep sedation, and can usually have results within a week’s time.

The addition of ultrasound to our diagnostic imaging services at Guelph Animal Hospital has greatly improved the quality of medicine that we are able to quickly provide to our patients.